Ex-director pleads guilty to assault

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The former director of the now defunct Wings Flight Training Academy has pleaded guilty to a final charge of assault.

Ravindra Pal Singh, 65, admitted the charge following a sentence indication by Judge Jennifer Binns in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday.

The indication given was a sentence of community work and emotional harm reparation.

Two additional charges of common assault went to a defended hearing last year and were proven.

Those charges related to assaults of students Illyas Valiyapeediyekal and Srishti Vijay, while they were in the air with Singh instructing them from the passenger seat. Singh ran the now-folded Wings Flight Training Academy for Indian students.

Mr Valiyapeediyekal was slapped across the face and had his head shoved against the cockpit during a flight on June 25, 2011.

Miss Vijay was elbowed during flights between May 25 and July 7 last year, causing her to worry about losing control.

Singh's lawyer, Tony Thackery, said the third charge related to a second incident with Miss Vijay, this time on the ground.

Asked by the Manawatu Standard if he was sorry for his actions, Singh said he didn't feel obliged to answer the question.

Singh was remanded on bail to reappear for sentence on all charges on March 26.